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EuroVicki
The last two days we stayed in while I tried to get over a very sore throat, probably brought on by a cold bus ride and very little sleep (due to the upstairs neighbor clomping around until 3 am each night). But here we are at St Pancras station, waiting for the Eurostar to take us to Paris Nord. When we arrived we were offered a special deal to upgrade and get lunch and wine - and a more comfortable seat. We decided to splurge with the leftover pounds ... The coach was fine but the meal was just okay. The travel time seemed minimal and we were excited to be in Paris! We walked off the train and headed towards a taxi - and were asked if we wanted a taxi. Joey said yes, and two men - one of them the driver - hustled us to an elevator and joey got on with our bags while I was left to the second elevator . We were separated by only a half a minute, but he was already down the ramp and to the car when I asked how much to get to the convention center so we could register early for the convention. When he told us €50, I was incensed. But I did not know how to get back upstairs to where we needed to catch the taxi line, And we were already running late because pre-registration ended at 5 PM and it was already 4 PM. So against my better judgment I said OK will pay the €50 but I was not a happy girl. Well, we managed to get to the line to preregister at a 4:45, so that part was handled. However because we had all the suitcases Joey wanted to stand and wait in the corner while I did the line and went inside for the registration. Once I was in Side, I was told that he needs to be with me so he could have his picture taken for his identification, so had to run outside after the doors were locked to bring him in with the suitcases and try to get him past security without having security check all of our luggage. Then it turned out that the super hosts cocktail party was a 10 to 15 minute walk from the registration area which would not have been bad except the elevator at the other end was broken and we would've had to walk up 25 stairs with two large suitcases and three carry-ons in order to get a cocktail and some weenies, so we decided to pass on the super host party. Then we had to walk back to the street dragging suitcases along the way to catch a taxi to our Airbnb apartment. Once we got in the taxi and gave the address for the apartment, we asked him how much it would've cost us taking a taxi from the convention center to the train station. He pointed at the building and said that is the train station. At that point his meter read €10. Aargh. I knew we had been hustled! But the apartment is lovely, we walked a little bistro and had dinner parentheses Joe we had steak, I broke down and had a burger, and we walked back to the apartment and semi- unpacked. it's very interesting how people in different countries live – what they think is essential, and what is not. And we are still discovering where things are being kept, and how to turn on and off lights. I guess it's all for tonight – Time for bed.
- comments
Judith traveling can be taxing!
hughellis Yup, it can be taxi-ing.